Jiang Luoluo still remembered her promise to Xie Zhichen. After a moment's hesitation, she finally spoke, "Your Highness, Zhichen asked me to tell you that he wants to be like other children, to go to the street to buy sugar figurines, watch performances, and play outside."
Xie Yizhi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then gently ground his back teeth. "This kid, in just a short while, he's become so familiar with Miss Jiang, and even has her acting as his mouthpiece."
Jiang Luoluo couldn't help but laugh when she saw Xie Yizhi like this for the first time. "It's because Your Highness's son is very outstanding!"
Xie Yizhi was so taken aback by Jiang Luoluo's sudden praise that he almost forgot to breathe.
She finally smiled!
Although she smiled broadly, Jiang Luoluo felt a deep, unspeakable bitterness in her heart.
She only sat for a short while before getting up and declining, saying, "Your Highness, Dingdang needs her dressing changed today, so I have to go."
Xie Yizhi had no reason to stop him, so he could only nod.
At this moment, Xie Zhichen came running over, his small figure rushing towards the main hall, with Mo Yang chasing after him.
Before Xie Zhichen even reached the hall entrance, Mo Yang grabbed him in a hug. He struggled, his face flushed red, and cried out, "Pretty sister! Pretty sister!"
Jiang Luoluo was startled by the sound and quickly walked out. She saw Xie Zhichen take advantage of Mo Yang's momentary lapse in attention, break free from his embrace, and pounce straight on Jiang Luoluo.
Mo Yang hurriedly apologized to Xie Yizhi, but Xie Yizhi waved his hand dismissively!
Jiang Luoluo crouched down slightly, and Xie Zhichen immediately buried his face in her arms, raised his round eyes, looked at her intently, and whispered, choking back tears, "Pretty sister, don't go!"
Jiang Luoluo smiled and gently patted his head, saying softly, "I have to leave first. I'll come see you again in a few days, okay?"
Xie Zhichen's face immediately scrunched up, and tears streamed down his face. He pouted and asked, feeling wronged, "You're lying!"
You're clearly unhappy. Do you dislike me too?
Do you think I'm a monster, just like that princess?
So you won't be coming again, right?
Jiang Luoluo felt a pang of sadness, quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe away his tears, picked him up, and looked into his eyes.
Her tone was both solemn and gentle: "Zhichen is not a monster. Zhichen looks exactly like Father, and is very handsome!"
Xie Zhichen blinked, sobbing, her voice tinged with uncertainty, "Really? But my mouth..."
"Zhichen's little mouth is just sick. Once the doctor cures it, you'll be the most handsome child in Daqi!" Jiang Luoluo gently flicked the tip of his nose and said in a playful tone.
Xie Zhichen was amused by her words and stopped crying. His mouth stretched into a wide smile, innocent and radiant. "Really? Sister, can my little mouth be cured? Can I be like everyone else?"
“Of course! I never lie to children!” Jiang Luoluo looked at him with an extremely serious expression.
"But, will you really come to see me again?" Xie Zhichen pouted, her eyes full of anticipation and uncertainty.
Jiang Luoluo smiled slightly, gently pinched his cheek, and said softly, "Of course I will. But Zhichen must also promise his sister that he can't sneak out anymore, or bad people will kidnap him if he's alone!"
If you want to go out and play, you can ask Daddy to tell your sister, and she will definitely come to pick you up, okay?
Xie Zhichen's face lit up with joy upon hearing this, and she clapped her hands excitedly, saying, "Yay! It's a deal then!"
As he spoke, he raised his little fist and earnestly offered it to Jiang Luoluo, adding in his childish voice, "A gentleman's word is as good as his bond, sister, let's make a promise like this!"
Jiang Luoluo looked at his earnest yet adorable expression and couldn't help but laugh. She gently nudged him with her fist, "Okay, I promise you. A gentleman's word is as good as his bond!"
The two men bumped fists with a smile, and Xie Yizhi, standing to the side, showed a hint of emotion on his usually icy face.
At that moment, a hint of tenderness appeared in his eyes!
Xie Zhichen reluctantly saw Jiang Luoluo off at the gate of the Prince's Mansion, waving her little hand high and calling out in her childish voice, "Goodbye, sister! Remember our promise!"
Jiang Luoluo turned around and waved to him, her smile warm, "Goodbye, Zhichen!"
As soon as Jiang Luoluo's figure disappeared at the end of the alley, Xie Yizhi's face instantly turned cold.
With a stern face, he grabbed Xie Zhichen and dragged him back into the house, closed the door, took out a ruler, and said in a tone as cold as winter, "Xie Zhichen, you left the manor without permission, do you know you've done wrong?"
Xie Zhichen's little hand was hit hard by the ruler and immediately turned bright red.
He gritted his teeth, stubbornly looked up at Xie Yizhi, his little face flushed red, "Daddy, I just want to be an ordinary child!"
I don't want to be some great hero like you. I've learned everything the teacher taught me and everything you taught me.
I've tried so hard, but why can't I even go out for a stroll?
Xie Yizhi paused slightly in his grip on the ruler, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
He looked at the stubborn little figure in front of him, his thin lips pressed tightly together, and remained silent for a long time, but did not strike the ruler a second time.
Perhaps he was too impatient; after all, he was still just a child.
Xie Yizhi slowly lowered the ruler in his hand, his expression less cold and hard and more helpless.
He pondered for a moment before speaking in a low voice: "Don't crawl out through the dog hole again. Study your lessons carefully."
From now on, you will be allowed one day a week to go out of the manor to play. I will send a message to that lady and ask her to come and pick you up.
Upon hearing this, Xie Zhichen's eyes lit up instantly. Ignoring the pain in his little hand, he jumped up excitedly, "Daddy, you're so great! I knew Daddy would listen to pretty sister!"
Xie Yizhi frowned slightly and gave him a cold glance. He felt like he had been tricked by this child.
Xie Zhichen recounted everything that had happened on the street to Xie Yizhi in detail. As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere around Xie Yizhi instantly became tense, and his hostility almost overflowed.
His gaze turned as sharp as a cold blade, and his entire being exuded an imposing aura of authority.
Seeing this, Xie Zhichen remained calm and looked up at him, his young face showing a hint of maturity.
He gently advised, "Father, there's no need to take action against that county magistrate. Don't you always teach me that a small act of impatience can ruin a great plan? Why bother with such a trivial matter? We haven't suffered any losses today."
As he spoke, he raised his little head and added with an admiring expression, "Pretty sister is really amazing. She made that princess run away with her tail between her legs in just a few words!"
"Father, you should learn more from pretty ladies!"
Upon hearing this, Xie Yizhi's brows twitched almost imperceptibly, his deep eyes narrowed slightly, and his gaze fell on Xie Zhichen with a complex expression.
After a moment, he snorted and muttered, "Such a young age, yet so eloquent. It seems he's learned quite a bit on this trip."
Seeing that his tone had softened, Xie Zhichen's face immediately lit up with a smile. He grabbed Xie Yizhi's arm and shook it, "Of course! I'm Father's son!"
Xie Yizhi's lips curled up almost imperceptibly, but he quickly suppressed it and said calmly, "This is the last time."
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